by InTrieste
The Link Media Festival, an annual gathering focused on journalism and global affairs, will return to this northeastern Italian city from April 10 to 12, bringing together an international roster of reporters, commentators and public figures to examine some of the most pressing issues of the day.
Among the featured speakers is Boris Johnson, the former British prime minister, who is scheduled to deliver a talk titled “The Darkest Hour / Toward More Difficult Times,” reflecting on political and global challenges. The program also includes prominent Italian journalists and commentators such as Marianna Aprile, who will receive the Crédit Agricole “Testimoni della Storia” Award for 2026, alongside figures including Neri Marcorè, Giovanni Floris and Agnese Pini.
A central moment of the festival will be the awarding of the 2026 “UNICEF-LINK” Prize to the Italian journalist Cecilia Sala. The honor recognizes her reporting on humanitarian crises and her focus on the experiences of children and young people in conflict zones.
Sala, a correspondent for Chora News and a war reporter who has covered conflicts in countries including Iran, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Sudan, is set to receive the award on April 11 at 4:30 p.m. in the Link Arena in Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia. The ceremony will be followed by a discussion between Sala and Nicola Graziano, president of UNICEF Italy, moderated by Giulio Gambino, editor of The Post Internazionale.
In announcing the award, Graziano said Sala had “given voice to the stories of many children, young people and their families, who struggle every day for their future.” The recognition comes as UNICEF marks its 80th anniversary, a milestone the organization will also observe during the festival.
“Too many children are still deprived of their rights and opportunities for growth because of war, poverty, violence and the climate crisis,” Graziano said in a statement. “Festivals like this offer an important space to reflect on the increasingly complex challenges facing childhood today.”
Francesca Fresa, the festival’s artistic director, noted that UNICEF has been a partner since the event’s inception, reflecting its emphasis on international issues and civil liberties. “Children are often the first victims of conflict and abuse,” she said. “Their protection remains central to our mission.”
The “UNICEF-LINK” Prize has previously been awarded to journalists and organizations recognized for their attention to humanitarian and global issues, including Nello Scavo, Enrico Mentana and the Italian news agency ANSA.
Beyond the award ceremony, the festival’s program features a wide range of discussions and panels with journalists, economists and analysts, including Marta Serafini, Emiliano Fittipaldi, Loretta Napoleoni and Andrew Hill. The event is organized by NEM Nord Est Multimedia in collaboration with the regional Order of Journalists of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Held in the historic center of Trieste, the festival continues to position itself as a forum for dialogue on international reporting, media responsibility and the evolving role of journalism in times of global uncertainty.
More information can be found here.
